National   

Enforce model code: Tandon

J. Venkatesan

B.B.Tandon

New Delhi : Chief Election Commissioner B.B. Tandon on Friday asked the poll observers deputed to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry for the coming Assembly elections to implement the Model Code of Conduct in letter and in spirit.

Addressing 414 observers (329 general and 85 expenditure), Mr. Tandon asked them to ensure free and fair elections and tell civil servants to be impartial. The other Commissioners, N. Gopalaswami and Navin Chawla, also addressed the meeting.

The CEC told correspondents that the Commission would be visiting Pondicherry on March 27 and Tamil Nadu on March 28 and 29 to oversee the arrangements made.

The observers were informed that no videography or photography should be allowed inside the polling stations and secrecy of vote would have to be maintained at all cost. They were directed to make sure that extensive videography was done of all critical events that might take place during the election process and polling at hyper-sensitive/sensitive polling stations.

The observers would reach the constituencies on the last day of nomination and stay there till the end of poll/repoll and declaration of results. This would ensure immediate redressal of complaints. They would supervise the processes of nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal, campaign and poll.

They must ensure that no more than three vehicles were allowed within 100 metres of the Returning Officer's/Assistant Returning Officer's office at the time of nomination.

To curb overcrowding, the Commission directed that at the time of nominations only candidates, their proposers, as prescribed by law, and four others be allowed to enter the office of Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer. They were asked to make sure that the affidavits filed by the candidates at the time of nomination detailing their movable/immovable assets, qualifications, convictions, cases pending in courts, were displayed prominently and made available for public scrutiny without any loss of time.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Ordinance route not the way, says Left
Disqualification Bill passed
Manmohan Singh visits Golden Temple
"Sonia tried to make a virtue out of a compelling necessity"
Enforce model code: Tandon
Focus on TB-HIV co-infection: Anbumani
Government trying to improve ties with all countries: Patil
"Violation of court orders"
Manmohan to raise Sarabjit issue again
4 Congress MLAs resign
Offer unilateral ceasefire: Mirwaiz
Congress workers continue to throng Delhi
Political parties urged to avoid blame game
First phase polls notified
Resignation of Kurien accepted
Bail denied
Jaya Bachchan not to contest against Sonia
Not holding any office of profit, says Somnath
Indian to launch new flights
Arms dealer threatens to sue Advani
Creation of strategic oil reserve sought
AIDS: India to set up pharma unit in Africa

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu